@GhostriderTC WindowsApps– You can get by without purchasing apps. Use TextEdit for example. Otherwise accept the cost and purchase the tools you need. Windows– If you need to work in Windows environment, then you have to provision for one. What’s wrong with using your old Windows laptop, rather than spending extra on Parallels and a … Read more
Mark Ostruszka asked the Answer Line forum if he should use a Registry repair program. There’s considerable controversy on this subject. These programs examine your Windows Registry, looking for pointers to non-existent files and other problems. Then, with your permission, they “fix” the problems, usually by deleting the keys. Many experts are absolutely opposed to … Read more
While it’s important to clean your Windows PC occasionally to clean junk and free up space, it’s possible to go overboard with it. If you go beyond basic cleaning with the tools built into Windows, you run the risk of breaking something. Let’s look at some dangers of going too far with Windows cleaning, and … Read more
There’s nothing more mysterious on a Windows PC than the Registry, and today we’ll explain exactly what it is, how it works, and whether you should bother cleaning it. We’ll also go about debunking a few widespread registry myths along the way. As I said, the registry has always been a mysterious—if not entirely misunderstood—component … Read more
Running Registry cleaners generally makes us nervous, as they’re far more likely to remove some important setting than make any measurable difference to your system speed. Most developers try to address this by building real intelligence into their code, but “Clean PC Smart” takes a different route: despite listing thousands of “issues” and claiming to … Read more
Every Windows user knows that you need to perform regular maintenance to keep your computer running smoothly. But what needs to be done has changed with recent versions, especially with Windows 10. What should you do, and what are the big pitfalls to avoid? We’ll show you the biggest maintenance mistakes to avoid so you … Read more
Do I still need paid-for software like ParetoLogic’s PC Health Advisor with Windows 10 Pro? Ludo Short answer: no. Tune-up programs enjoyed some success in the boom years from Windows 95 to XP, when hardware was slower and optimization might make a difference. Today, Windows 10 looks after itself pretty well, and the simplest “tune … Read more
How often do you stop and think about the apps you’re installing on your computer? We’re not talking about apps like Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop, which have millions of users and are perfectly safe to use. We mean other third-party apps that, on the face of it, perform useful tasks. For example, how confident … Read more
The Windows registry is exactly as it sounds—a central registry. It contains all the configuration settings for the operating system, hardware, user profiles, and software. Needless to say, it’s an integral and delicate component of your operating system. All the entries, referred to as keys and subkeys, are sorted into five major categories known as … Read more
Nowadays, cookies, temporary files, and various other means of tracking your Web footprint are par for the course. Some of these trackers are useful, while others can be potentially intrusive. Thankfully, there are myriad freeware cleaners out there that help keep your system in check. CCleaner is one of the best ones for its ease … Read more